Dancing Raisins

This is an extremely popular activity among elementary teachers. We recommend that you play some dance music and encourage the kids to join in with the raisins while you learn about the science behind the dance.

Try it yourself!

You are going to need:

Raisins

Soda water

Glass

Directions:

Fill the glass with soda.

Drop 10-15 raisins into the soda.

Focus all of your attention on those raisins. Are they moving? Yes! They’re floating, they’re bobbing up and down, they’re dancing!

Dancing Raisins Variation:

Set up your drinking glasses with different types of soda.

See which type of soda makes the best dancing raisins.

Try using all of the same type of soda but different kinds of “dancers.”

Throw in macaroni, noodles, lentils, craisins, even corn!

Which combination of soda and dancers “performs” the best show?

Keep experimenting until you find the best combination!

This experiment is brought to you by Steven Spangler Science. Visit their site for tons of additional DIY Science Experiments.